Aston Villa continue overhauling the roster that claimed the UEFA Europa League title last season. Several of the best players from that trophy winning squad left this summer, with Ollie Watkins now the latest to leave. It would be understandable to call this transfer window a sell-off, but that is not entirely true.
Arsenal at Aston Villa FC FYIs
Kickoff: Monday Aug. 31 8pm, Villa Park, Birmingham, UK
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PL Standing: Arsenal 1st, 3 pts, Aston Villa FC 19th, 0 pts, +3 GD
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Villa Park has been signing replacements for the defections. but overall, on paper, it certainly looks like Villa have weakened this summer transfer window.
The season opening result, a 4-0 blowout at the hands of Brighton, (where Watkins refused to even play), certainly gives this theory more credibility.
Ollie Watkins
Manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Watkins is leaving, and he follow Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United) and Lucas Digne (Paris Saint-Germain) out the Villa Park exit door.
A deal has been struck for him to join Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, for £50 million ($67m), with an official announcement incoming.
Nicolas Jackson
And here is the replacement for Ollie Watkins, as the club have already officially announced his arrival.
According to multiple outlets, the transfer fee agreement as £65m in total, with an up-front sum of £47.5m, and then £17.5m more in potential add-ons.
Emi Martinez
You again? Yes, doing business with Chelsea yet again this summer! In a separate deal from the Jackson transaction, Martinez is headed to Chelsea for a fee of £7.5 million ($10.2m).
Ibrahim Mbaye
According to Sky Sports, Villa have reached a verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to bring in the 18-year-old winger. A transfer fee of £47m has been agreed between the two sides, so all that is left is the medical and paperwok.
Villa moved on to Mbaye after missing out on forward Rafael Leao, who instead opted to join Galatasaray.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.